Liquor policy bribery row: Minister MB Rajesh lodges complaint with DGP

THIRUVANANTHAPYRAM: Minister MB Rajesh took to Facebook saying that the government has not decided to withdraw dry day or increase the hours of bars.

"The preliminary discussion on this year's liquor policy has not even started. There is a flurry of news in many media on the issue that has not even started preliminary discussion. All this is a matter that the Excise Department does not think about, and one has to believe that some miscreants have come to take advantage of the opportunity by believing the news," he said

"There will be an investigation and strong action in this regard. A complaint has been lodged with the DGP. Those who came to take advantage and those who give money will be trapped," he added.

In a long post on Facebook, the minister also wrote about different aspects of the bar bribery row.

The minister complaint to the state DGP come in wake of an audio clip from an office bearer of the Federation of Kerala Hotel Association, which is about collecting Rs 2.5 lakh from each bar owner for a favourable liquor policy by the government.

“Our government is taking the audio clip very seriously. Even the initial discussions on the liquor policy have not been completed. Let the investigators find out whether there is a conspiracy behind the entire episode. Many will be upset with the strict measures that are being planned by the government,” Minister Rajesh said.